Community Forums

Frankie Z · 06-20-2014, 09:30 AM

I have a newbie question on holding tanks.
I empty tanks before I leave campground. If I use black and gray tanks on way home from camping and tanks show 1/3 full is there any harm in leaving the tanks with waste in them when I return to storage prior to my next camping trip, (3 or 4 weeks), or should I empty them again prior to storage.

Thanks

**NLOVNIT** · 06-20-2014, 09:33 AM

I would empty, flush & then add some water to cover the seals, with treatment in it. That's what we do. Leaving waste in storage that long can get pretty "ripe" - especially in hot/humid weather.

Lori-

Fred1609 · 06-20-2014, 09:36 AM

I agree ..... dump the tanks and drain the hot water tank as well....

Melmoses · 06-20-2014, 10:38 AM

I have no place to dump the black tank when I get home. I dump when we leave the last stop and refill the black tank with 2 minutes of water. We use it on the way home. When I get home I add pine power to the tank. It sits that way until our next trip sometimes can be 6 weeks. When we leave on the next trip I add more pine power and ice to the tank. At our first stop I dump the tank during setup and backwash, add 2 min of water again to the tank. Never had a problem doing this for the past 4 years that we have owned it. I don't drain the water heater either until we stop for winter where it sits for 4 months of tax season. I replace the anode in the water heater every spring.

MSHappyCampers · 06-20-2014, 11:01 AM

I don't worry about leaving some in the black tank if we will be traveling again within the next month. I use the Happy Camper tank treatment and have never had any smell!

RickO · 06-20-2014, 11:07 AM

This gets discussed here quite a bit and IMHO it's best to dump and add a few gallons of fresh water to both tanks... following Lori's advice.

Many folks report leaving a small/reasonable amount of waste in the tanks without any trouble but I don't do it.

Best of luck.

Rick

Frankie Z · 06-20-2014, 12:21 PM

Thanks to all who took the trouble and time to respond

Mich F · 06-20-2014, 02:12 PM

Obviously everyone has different ideas regarding your question. I would question the accuracy of your black and gray tank gauges if they show 1/3 full on a trip home. How long a trip are you talking ?